Sound-reproducer.



No. 679,923. Patented Alig. 6, 190|.

` L. VALIUET.

SDU'ID BEPRODUCEH. (Appnuomedmls 189s) (No Modal.)

TNEssEws- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS `P. VAIIQUET, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SOUND-REPRODUCER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 679,923, dated August 6, 1901. Application iiled December 19, 1898. Serial No. 699,636. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS P. VALIQUET, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York city, countyof New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound- Reproducers, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to talking-machines; and it consists of an improved form of soundbox and means for mounting the diaphragm and reproducing-stylus thereon.

My invention is applicable to any form of talking-machines, but specifically designed to be employed on what is known as the gramophone.77

he preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention is illustrated in the aecompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure l is an end elevation of a sound-reproducer as a whole. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the stylus-carrier and stylus removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the reproducer. Fig. 4 is a central section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail of the stylus-oarrier and stylus; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 4, showing the diaphragm-mounting more clearly.

Throughout the drawings like referencefigures refer to like parts.

The reproducer is composed of the ordinary form of sound-box, having a cylindrical or tubular portion l and a anged portion 2. In the flanged portion, recessed for the purpose, is the diaphragm 3, which may be of mica or any other suitable substance. I have illustrated it as of mica or other transparent material. A retaining-ring 5 is fastened to the face of the lianged portion 2 of the sound-box by aseries of screws 5L or othersuitable means, said ring acting to retain the diaphragm in position. There is a gasketof rubber 4 or other non -sonorous material between the sound-box and the diaphragm. The retaining-ring 5 has an extension 6 projecting toward the center. Preferably this extension should be of some resilient material, such as steel, and preferably the entire retainingring and extension is stamped out of one piece of steel or iron. The ring 5 is out away at the base of the extension 6, as shown at 7 7a, dac., so as to leave a reduced quantity of metal, forming the base of said extension 6. On this extension Gis mounted the stylus-carrier S by means of the screws 12 l2 or otherwise. This stylus-carrieris phonetioallyconnected to the diaphragm by having its inner end pressed against said diaphragm normally or by having a deposit 9 of shellac or other material upon the diaphragm and in which the end of the stylus-carrier is embedded, as shown in Figs. l and 4. The outer end of the stylus-carrier has a socket in which the stylusneedle 10 is mounted and retained by means of the set-screw ll or other clamping device. The diaphragm 3 and gasket 4 are made of such thickness thatthey do not quite fill the space left under the retaining-ring 5, and in this open space I insert a loose gasket 13, of paper or other non-sonorous material.

The method of operation of my invention is evident from the foregoing description. The parts being assembled, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, and the sound-box mounted in a proper reproducing-machine and the stylus l0 inserted in the groove of the sound-record vibrations are given to said stylus l0, which are transmitted to the stylus-carrier S and through the phonetic connection to the diaphragm 3. The diaphragm being caused to vibrate sets up sound-waves, which are carried away through the tube-shaped portion l of the sound-box.

The "advantages of the invention are as follows: The spring extension 6 of the retaining-ring 5 being made integral therewith reduces the number of parts by one. Moreover, the spring extension has no curve or sharp bend in it, as is the case with some other mountings for the stylus-carrier,which are liable to break at the bend. The whole retainingring serving as a base for the spring-mounting for the reproducing-stylus has a large bearing 4area on the Asound-box and furnishes a particularly rigid and firm support. The out-away portions '7 and 7a at the base of the spring extension 6 can be liled down after the reproducer parts have been assembled and tried until the exact degree of elasticity is given to the stylus-mounting which produces the best results. It is a fact, of course, that every individual stylus-mount- IOO ing has its individual amount of elasticity, whichfmay or may not be that calculated to produce just that degree or rate of vibration which will give the best result in combination with any given sound-box. It is evidently impossible to determine in advance `just what the degree of elasticity will or' should be in any particular stylus-mounting nniil after it has been attached to the soundbox and tested. My invention provides an easy and convenient means of modifyingthis elasticity after the reproducer parts have* lscratching and buzzing sounds are noticeable, which I believe to be the result of these independent vibrations ofthe diaphragm and connected parts; but Whether this be the correct theory or n ot I have discovered that the simple insertion of a loose paper gasket 13 in the position shown removes these foreign sounds. The gasket 13 should not be clampedbetween the. diaphragm and the retaining-ring, but should lie there loosely.

Itis evident, of course, thatvvarious changes could be made in the details of the apparatus described without departing from the scope of my invention, so long as the general arrangement of parts shown in the drawings and principle of operation described in the specification are preserved. Other forms of sound-box might be employed, the retaining-ring and extension thereof might be given a different shape, other `methods of attaching the stylus to the said extension -might be employed, &c.; but all ythese I revretaining-ring therefor which has a spring extension formed integral therewith, and the reproducing-stylus mounted on said spring extension, and phonetically connected to the diaphragm, substantially as described.

2. In a sound-reproducer the combination ot' the sound-box, the diaphragm therein, the retaining-ring therefor which has a spring extension, said retaining-ring being partly cut away at the base of the spring extension, and the reproducing-stylus mounted on said spring extension, and phonetically connected to the diaphragm, substantially as described.

3. In a sound-reproducer the combination of the sound-box, the diaphragm therein, the retaining ring therefor, the stylus carrier mounted on an integral projection of said ring, and having one end bearing on the diaphragm, and the stylus mounted in said carrier, substantially as described.

Signedby me at New York city, county and State of New York, this 17th day of December, 1898.

LOUIS P. VALIQUET.

Witnesses:

LILIAN FOSTER, A. PARKER SMITH. 

